Grants from the Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) have been announced, going to four Church of the Brethren congregations including Roanoke Central, Williamson Road, Amaranth, and Lynchburg.
Formed with funds generated from sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., the BFIA provides grants to outreach ministries of Church of the Brethren congregations and camps that honor and continue the center’s legacy of service while also addressing the dynamics of the present age.
For more information and how to apply go to www.brethren.org/faith-in-action
A grant of $5,000 to Roanoke (Va.) Central Church of the Brethren helps sponsor a training resource project focused on racial justice and faith-based reparations. Two primary goals are to continue partnership with the Roanoke Reparations Group and efforts to educate the community about the harms caused to Black Americans through 400 years of systematic racism and white supremacy and what can be done to address those harms, and to encourage Church of the Brethren congregations in the area to appoint racial justice advocates through the Standing with People of Color initiative and provide them with action steps on how to combat racism. To accomplish these two goals, author and professor Drew Hart of First Harrisburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren will deliver presentations on the weekend of Sept. 26 including a community forum at Roanoke College on the rationale for reparations and a workshop for representatives from Church of the Brethren congregations who are involved in the effort. The plan includes steps to follow up on the two activities.
A grant of $5,000 to Williamson Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., supports its Blessing Bag Ministry providing food and other supplies for needy and homeless people in the surrounding community. The project is the congregation’s primary service ministry, providing support to the community every week since its beginnings in Nov. 2023. The congregation initiated a drive-through and walk-up Blessing Bag Ministry each Friday morning after recognizing the need to provide food for more people than its first Blessing Box was serving. The church donates items and makes monetary donations to support the ministry, but has sought funding to expand the ministry as the neighborhood increasingly struggles with economic needs and many families experience food insecurity.
A grant of $4,825.13 to Amaranth Church of the Brethren in Warfordsburg, Pa., supports a community meal ministry and special outreach events. Every Wednesday evening, the community is invited to a dinner that is an intergenerational event feeding 30 to 35 people. Praise and worship music follows, with an age-appropriate class time of Bible study, songs, and crafts. The ministry began during the COVID-19 pandemic when two grandmothers felt called to create a safe space for children to gather and feel loved. Last year, six new members were baptized and one was dedicated to the Lord through this ministry. Other outreach events supported by this ministry include bowling with church members, events for children, and a monthly cookout and study opportunity at a local park, among others.
A grant of $3,291.67 to Lynchburg (Va.) Church of the Brethren support a Gun Lock Ministry. Members of the church believe that all human life is sacred and that gun violence is preventable. Their goal is to enhance gun safety in the community by distributing gun locks to individuals who need them. Safe storage of guns can prevent suicide, homicide, and accidents and the distribution of gun locks, particularly when they are provided free of charge, can increase safe storage practices. The congregation will distribute 1,000 free gun locks by Dec. 2029.
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
———-
Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Intercultural Ministries imagines a beloved community vision that inspires and challenges us
- Review and Evaluation Committee begins its work
- Worship resources are available for Service Sunday on Feb. 1
- Loretta Wolf and Glenna Thompson conclude their work with the Material Resources program
- Pat Marsh to retire from the Church of the Brethren Finance office